Philosophy 2080 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Abhorrence, Puritans, Natural Philosophy
30 Jan 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The subject of this essay is civil, or social liberty: the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual. In old times this contest was between subjects, or some classes of subjects, and the government. By liberty, was meant protection against the tyranny of the political rulers. The rulers were conceived (except in some of the popular governments of greece) as in a necessarily antagonistic position to the people whom they ruled . A time, however, came, in the progress of human affairs, when men ceased to think it a necessity of nature that their governors should be an independent power, opposed in interest to themselves. It appeared to them much better that the various magistrates of the state should be their tenants or delegates, revocable at their pleasure. The nation did not need to be protected against its own will. There was no fear of its tyrannising over itself.
